Top Candidates For Mayor Of Baltimore Go Head-To-Head

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's the home stretch in the race to run the city. Voters head to the polls in just two weeks to cast their vote for the next mayor of Baltimore.

On Tuesday night, the candidates were grilled on hot topics affecting Baltimore.

Meghan McCorkell has more on the debate.

From crime to education, the top candidates for mayor answered tough questions about what makes them the best choice for Baltimore.

With just days to go until voters head to the polls in the primary, the people vying for top spot in City Hall go head-to-head.

"Revive, reclaim and rebuild Baltimore. That's what I want to do," said Sheila Dixon, (D) mayoral candidate.

"I'm excited about moving us forward as opposed to backwards,"(D) mayoral candidate.

While recent polls show Catherine Pugh and Sheila Dixon leading the pack, political newcomers fight to make their mark.

"We've had pay to play politics. We've had mayors that are distracted by conflicts of interest, by scandals, by investigations," said Elizabeth Embry, (D) mayoral candidate.

"The political status quo in Baltimore has brought us the drug problems that we're talking about, has brought us the lack of jobs, has brought us the 17,000 vacant houses," said David Warnock, (D) mayoral candidate.

The two current councilmen on the ballot try to push for a new kind of leadership.

"If we keep doing the same things over and over again with the same cast of characters, we're going to get the same exact results," said Nick Mosby, (D) mayoral candidate.

"It needs a mayor that would change the perception by changing the reality. That's what we need," said Carl Stokes, (D) mayoral candidate.

And with the primary now just days away, the candidates are making a big push for those undecided voters.

With 15 percent still not sure which way to go, it could be a game-changer.

"I'm running like I'm ten points behind. I'm doing everything that we've done that has gotten us this far," said Pugh.

"I'm knocking on doors every day, talking to people personally so they can ask me whatever questions or concerns that they have," said Dixon.

They've got just two more weeks to make their case.

Some of the candidates say they have seen polls be wrong before, so they plan to continue their push all the way to the finish line.

The primary election is April 26.